Is Monogamy Natural?

I'm not exactly the Laird Hamilton of internet surfing - there are only a handful of sites that I visit regularly, boring stuff like the Times, Gawker, ESPN and Facebook. But every once in awhile I come across a wacky site that fulfills the internet's promise to introduce me to people I would never associate with in real life. Exhibit Numero Uno: Leah, a self-described "love slut" (don't worry, I'm not sending you to a dirty page).

I'm not exactly the Laird Hamilton of internet surfing - there are only a handful of sites that I visit regularly, boring stuff like the Times, Gawker, ESPN and Facebook. But every once in awhile I come across a wacky site that fulfills the internet's promise to introduce me to people I would never associate with in real life. Exhibit Numero Uno: Leah, a self-described "love slut" (don't worry, I'm not sending you to a dirty page).

On Saturday I went to a tree trimming party, where Shane and Mike received a talking Elvis doll. It is perhaps the creepiest thing I have ever seen.

To summarize her open letter, Leah is not a one-man sorta gal. She can be provocative: "I think that people are programmed to believe that only a monogamous relationship can indicate a healthy loving relationship. We are programmed to want to get married, settle down in the south of France, start wine vineyards, and live the rest of our lives as freelance novelists." She doesn't judge people who buy into that worldview; it's just not for her. And you know something? I see where she's coming from.

I came across this at a flea market on Sunday. It's a violin case that has been modified to safely transport two wine glasses and a bottle of wine. How impressed would you be if a guy showed up to a picnic with this?

I don't think human beings are naturally monogamous. We are animals, after all, and among most other species there's no such thing as cheating. Monogamy and marriage are social constructs, like money and nationalism. It's not that I don't believe in the value of marriage. My parents have an amazing one, and I have benefited greatly from it. I would like to get married one day. But I don't think "til' death do us part" is for everyone, and I applaud people like Leah who are brave enough to buck social convention and go their own way. Do you ever struggle with monogamy, or do you think Leah needs to get her act together and settle down?